FMF - Friends of Minerals Forum, discussion and message board

[vhairap]

Dear All,
By opening this thread, I just intend to bring images of minerals from the different parts of Iran. The idea is to show Iranian specimens (old and new) with locality information and general questions/discussion. Anyone who wishes to join can post his own images following FMF forum rules. Hope I opened in right place.

[Jordi Fabre]

[Pierre Joubert]

Looking forward to this one Vachik.

[vhairap]

Minerals from Khowrin Mount, Kohandan (East of Tafresh), central Iran

I know that epidote specimens from the locale now can be found in the collections worldwide. I want to share the following information on the history of collecting and mineralogy of the locale.

In recent years Iranian pistacite skarn specimens yielding gorgeous gemmy epidote crystals in greenish back color were offered in the mineral markets, worldwide. It is still a matter of debate when and who first found these epidotes. Considering the first miniature sized piece in my collection, purchased from a souvenir shop at Esfahan, autumn 1994, a few earliest specimens must be found earlier probably by locals. Since then a few specimens were fashioned in the Munich mineral show (2001) by German dealers. However, all these were erroneously labeled as from Afghanistan, and then Kuhaye Zagros (Zagros Mountains, SW Iran) and precise locality information was unknown to the collectors for years. However in 2006, it was finally revealed that the Khowrin Mount, close to Kohandan village, 15 km east of Tafresh town (see map) is the source locale. The locale is mineralogically investigated and appeared to be more diversified than earlier thought. There was a hardly accessible, rather small pocket, in 50 m below the summit (3300 m height) from which most specimens of epidote crystals had been collected. The pocket was reported to be almost exhausted by me in 2006. The collected specimens yielded tabular crystals of variable sizes (up to ca. 3 cm) that elongated along [010] making flattened form. Associated minerals are acicular quartz, large rhombohedrons of calcite and garnet (var. andradite).

[vhairap]

An aesthetic and large cabinet specimen of gemmy deep green epidote crystals

[vhairap]

A very superb and museum quality specimen, covered with numerous dark green crystals.

[vhairap]

A cabinet sized sample of Epidote crystals on an Epidote matrix with quartz.

[vhairap]

Large-cabinet specimen of highly lustrous, well formed-tabular to bladed epidote crystals.

[vhairap]

A nice tower of gemmy deep green epidote crystals.

[supertxango]

Hi Vachik,

Interesting post, amazing description and gorgeous epidote specimens. Please tell us more about Iran, an unknown mineralogical country for me.

Thank you very much!

[vhairap]

Further specimens ...

[Antonio Alcaide]

Thand you very much, Vhairap, for sharing your knowledge about Iran and your stunning epidote specimens. I guess the development of this thread will bring us more lovely surprises.

Regards

[vhairap]

Minerals from Qale-Zari Mine, South Khorasan Province, eastern Iran

Located in South Khorasan province, about 180 km SSW of Birjand city. Iron oxide-copper-gold (IOCG) deposit, consisting of specularite-rich veins with copper, gold and silver ores, hosted in Jurassic shale and sandstone in the core of an anticline. The deposit was explored in 1969-1972 and has been mined since 1972. The minerals of the mine were not displayed for more than three decades. Recently, it produced very fine and aesthetic specimens, particularly of calcite, hemimorphite, quartz, chalcopyrite, atacamite, malachite, chrysocolla and small wulfentite crystals.

[vhairap]

[Josele]

Maybe the most known stone from Iran: